Freddie Roach: ‘Last call’ for Tim Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao

Trainer Freddie Roach had some choice words for Tim Bradley and provided an update on Manny Pacquiao's training in advance of their April 12 rematch at the MGM Grand on HBO Pay Per View.

"Our mantra is 'close the show. No mercy,'" said Roach. "You don't have don't have to be a groundhog to know that Bradley's days as welterweight champ are numbered. It's last call for Bradley on April 12."

During two fights over the course of 2012, Pacquiao lost to Bradley by split-decisin in June of that year before falling by sixth-round knockout in December of that year to Juan Manuel Marquez, against whom Pacquiao is 2-1-1. Pacquiao won his most recent fight in November by unanimous decision over Brandon Rios.

In his past two fights, Bradley rose from a 12th-round knockdown to unanimously decision Ruslan Provodnikov in March 2013 and then won a split-decision over Marquez in October.

The WBO has declared that the winner of Bradley-Pacquiao II must face that between Marquez and Mike Alvarado, who will fight on May 17.

Roach offered some nuggets of information from his workouts with Pacquiao in a recent press release.

Freddie Roach on Manny Pacquiao's training:

"Manny started the week a little slow due to jetlag, but finished off strong on Saturday. He was just brilliant in his sparring on Saturday. His footwork was effortless, his hand speed was blazing, and his power is as good as it's ever been."

Roach on the strategy for Tim Bradley, how the rematch will be different:

"We are training for big game in this fight. Manny knows he is going to have to hunt Bradley down and close the show this time. The first fight with Bradley was so easy for Manny that after six rounds, he just took it easy on him.

"Not this time. Our mantra is 'close the show. No mercy.' You don't have don't have to be a groundhog to know that Bradley's days as welterweight champ are numbered. It's last call for Bradley on April 12."

Roach on Pacquiao's motivation:

"Manny is really motivated for this fight. We decided no matter how many fights we have remaining, we are determined to run the table and win every one. And when it is over, it is going to be as world champion. And that can only happen with a total and absolute victory over Bradley."

Roach on Bradley's assertions of injury:

"Bradley says he fought Manny last time with two bad feet. I don't remember him coming into the ring in a wheelchair. He hurt his feet when Manny connected his power punches on him. Manny hit Bradley so hard, it broke his ankles."

Roach on Bradley's claim that Pacquiao lacks hunger:

"For Bradley to say 'Manny doesn't have the hunger anymore, and it's never coming back,' and 'Manny no longer has his killer instinct,' that tells me that Bradley is still suffering from the concussion Provodnikov laid on him."